Superb Sam Stanley ends Senior Championship hopes

An up and coming young Tommy Larkins senior hurling team easily accounted for Athenry in the first round of the Senior Hurling championship at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe. The final scoreline of 5-7 to 0-3 clearly reflects the superiority of the winners who displayed a high level of fitness and earnest endeavour. Sam Stanley played a superb game for the winners and had a steadying effect on his side.

For Athenry goalie Eamonn Mullins could not be faulted and neither could Richie Williams or Ray Glynn. Hubert Conway worked very hard to inspire his colleagues but was left with too much to do to be really effective. Only Tom Qualter and Pat Madden impressed in the forwards.

Team: Eamonn Mullins, Frank Brody, Anthony Freeney, John Donnellan, Luke Glynn, Richie Williams, Ray Glynn, Hubert Conway, Sean Hynes, Tom Qualter, J.J. Kelly, Pat Madden, Michael Mullins, Eamonn King, Michael Treacy.

Glory for Galway Minor Football Team 

Sean Hynes captained the Galway minor hurling team that defeated Wexford by 3-9 to 2-4 in the All-Ireland semi-final at Athlone. The Athenryman scored a goal and two points in the minors shock defeat of Wexford and led Galway into their first All-Ireland Final in a dozen years. Against Cork in the final Hynes was joined by P.J. Molloy but the Munster champions were superior and had a comfortable winning margin, 5-19 to 2-9. The Galway team also included 'locals Mixie Donoghue and Stephen Cloonan.

Hynes and Cloonan were back in Croke Park two weeks later with the Galway minor football team who had qualified for the minor football final against Kerry. A point in the last thirty seconds earned Galway a draw in a cliffhanger. Stephen Cloonan played at right full back and according to the Connacht Tribune "Cloonan in particular had some positively brilliant moments."

In a thrilling replay Galway edged out Kerry by 1-1 1 to 1-10 to capture the title, the winning point coming in the last minute. The win brought great satisfaction to a team that played and looked like champions from the start of the campaign under the guidance of Tom Cunningham.

There was mild surprise at the Clubs Annual General Meeting when the Treasurer Pake Ruane told delegates that he did not have a proper balance sheet to give his account of the Club's finances. His 'excuse'-the Bank Strike. Delegates voted 19 to 15 in favour of a proposal that the ban should go.

In a thrilling minor football championship game at Athenry the home team held a brilliant Tuam Stars side to a draw. Tuam led by 2-3 to 1-4 at half time but Athenry battled back in the second half to level the scores in a cracking finish. The final score was Athenry 1-9, Tuam Stars 2-6. In the replay Tuam were in devastating form and won comfortably. They went on to win the County minor championship.

The minor hurlers had an easy win over Ahascragh in the in first game but were beaten by Turloughmore 6-2 to 4-4 in the North Board Final at Mountbellew. In the under 21 championship Athenry had two points to spare over their keenest rivals in the North Final, the score Athenry 4-5, Turloughmore 3-6.

Team: Mickey Farrell, Johnny Gannon, Gerry Kelly, Michael Poniard, Ray Glynn (Capt.), Tom Burke, Kieran Barrett, Luke Glynn, Sean Hynes, P. J. Molloy, Anthony Poniard, Gabriel Coffey, Noel Kelly, Noel O'Grady, John Crosby.

In the County semi-final Craughwell ended Athenry's County championship hopes with a 6-7 to 2-3 victory at Pearse Stadium.